| The play's power and influence are historic. Take away the penultimate line from the script, the one that offends the most, and it's quite a journey. And I always say: keep your eyes on the character of Harold. In many ways, he's the apex, and his self-awareness and ability to cut through the vitriol and cruelty make him a man before his time. Or rather, on the cusp of a new era. Frey was iconic, but Quinto will likely find the savvy timelessness in the character, and when Harold is expertly drawn, the entire trajectory changes. In a way, he the change agent, and in some ways (it's a kind of showdown between Harold and Michael) the plot proper is about skewering Michael's anxiety, leaving his POV behind. I noticed this re-watching the film last spring. And Tony Kushner's new introduction to the published text is terrific. His appraisal, both affectionate and intellectually eye-opening, make a case why the play was and will always be important. |
